Bonner’s longshot — why he’s made for All-Star weekend

The Spurs contacted the NBA recently to get an idea how many from their franchise will be invited to All-Star weekend. They were thinking, for example, they would need to make arrangements for Gary Neal and DeJuan Blair, since both will likely play in the rookie-sophomore game.

So they asked whether Matt Bonner would be in his first 3-point shooting contest, and the response was a curious one.

We don’t think, um, he has enough attempts to qualify.

To be fair, Bonner isn’t a high-volume shooter. No one has taken more 3-pointers in the league this season than Manu Ginobili, for example, and Ginobili averages about twice as many attempts as his teammate.

Still, shouldn’t making them mean at least as much as shooting them? Especially when, in a contest, making them is all that matters?

There’s still time before the NBA sets its All-Star lineup, which means it’s possible for players to shoot themselves in or out of the 3-point competition. As of today, Bonner is second in the league in 3-point percentage, at just over 50 percent.

Bonner doesn’t come close to Ginobili’s average of 6.3 attempts a game. But Bonner also isn’t like the only player who has a better percentage, Shawne Williams of the Knicks. Williams has attempted about half as many 3-pointers as Bonner, and in only 22 games.

Bonner’s 3.5 average attempts a game, in contrast, reflects someone who is lining up behind the arc every night. Not unlike Mike Bibby, in third place in accuracy while averaging 4.3 attempts, or Ray Allen, in fourth place, averaging 4.6.

This is also what Bonner does. He is, by trade, a 3-point shooter. He might not be in the league without this skill.

Then there’s this: Would anyone have more fun being out of place in the culture of All-Star weekend than Bonner?